Knockdown crate



my. 11, 192m 1,514,934 J. A. MOORE KNOCKDOWN CRATE Filed Feb. 14, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet. 1

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' Application filed February 14, 1924. Sc -18.11%. 692,761.

To all itma 0mm; Be itknown t at I, JOHN A. Moons, a

Louisville in the county of Jefterson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockspecification.

. This invention pertains to an improved knock-down ,shipping.crate, the construction and advantages of. which will hereinafter appear.

The mam object of the invention is to provide a knock-down crate which may be readily brought to its assembled position and locked in such position with the top open, whereby the goods may be readily packed or placed within the open crate or the cover raised after its receipt by the consignee for thepurpose of displaying the goods or contents. A further objectof the invention is to provide means for temporarily holdin the front and back of the crate, the en s, and the bottom thereof, in their set-up position, such means being readily manipulated in bringing the crate to form, and as readily removed when it is desired to knock down the crate.v A still further-object of the invention resides in the provision of means for covering such temporary crate element sustainingmeans when the cover of the crate is closed and secured for shipment.

The invention is illustrated in. the annexed drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the crate set up and'withthe lid thrown-to partially open' position;

Fig. 2 a similar view showing the top close and secured in place; Fig. 3 a like view showing its outfolded position and with the two end members removed;

- Fi 4 a bottom plan view, broken away, showmg the continuous binding strip which 1 holds the various sections together and forms a hin ed' element for such sections;

- Fi 5 a detailperspective view illustrating't e manner in which the sustaining or setting-uphook or element is attache to the batten element of the box structure' Fig. 6- a similar view, showing a sli htly difierent manner of positioning the en clothe crate in sures or crate ends in place with reference to the battens, and A Figs. 7, 8 and 9 detail pers ective views showing sli ht modifications'o the setting up and hol ing elements for the component.

portions of the box or crate. down Crate's,of which the following is a Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive,

composed of three slats or members 1, 2 and 3, a back 4 shown as a single piece, a front 5, likewise shown as a single piece, and a top composed of three slats orplements 6, 7 and 8. Grooved battensfland 10 are secured'to the slats 1, 2'and1 3, the ends of .16 are employed with the top or the slats ,6, 7 and 8 w ich compose the same.

The various battens thus far described-are secured to the respective elements with which they are associated by means of nails .indicated by 17, which are dfi' en through the metal strips 18 and 19 which overlie the ends of the various elements composing the bot-' tom, back, front and top, said straps being flexible so that the crate elements maybe turned up from the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The ends of the box or crate are denoted by 20 and 21, and are inserted in the grooves in the battensas indicated in Fig. 1 after the body of the box may be said to comprise I I a bottom shown in the present instance as theparts are brought'to the position shown in said figure or as they are folded up to the position s own in said figure.

In order to'hold the box in its'assembled' position while it is being packed,,or after it is open for the purpose of displaying the upturned, or,

and the hooked end 22 of the Wire 23 is seated in said groove or notch. The opposite end of the wire is provided with a similar hook denoted by 24, the wire being of such length that when the box elements are brought into their upstanding or assembled positidn,-the wire may be thrown downwardly and the-hook 24 caused to pass over the upstanding ends of the batten elements 14.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1, a similar wire or sustaining element is employed in conjunction with the batten 11, and when these two sustaining elements are brought to the position shown in said figure, they securely hold the parts in their assembled or set-up condition. It is to be understood that as the back and front are in other words, brought to their upright position, the box ends 20 and 21 will be positioned, and such members act as spacing elements for the vertically disposed battens 11 and 12, and 13 and 14.

v The hooks 22 prevent the wires from becoming disengaged, and yet allow the same to be freely turned down to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the body of the crate is in its collapsed or extended position/ The straps 18 and 19 are turned back upon themselves at one end, preferably -adjacent the forward edge of the cover, and are threaded, respectively, through eyes or loops 25 and 26.- The other ends ofthe b straps are free and of such a length that a when the box top is turned down to the position shown in Fig. 2, said ends may be passed through the loops or eyes and then cut back upon'themselves and secured in any suitable manner as by nails 27 or by the emlployment-of any standard strap coupling.

' t will be noticed. upon reference to Fig. 2 that when the straps are secured in place they overlie the hooked slip out of place, and thus the crate is stayed by said wires and they contribute a degree of stability to the box which would not otherwise obtain.

It is not essential that the battens be grooved, but they may be rabbeted, as shown in Fig. 6, and the box ends denoted by 28 placed therein.

While I prefer to secure the sustaining wires to the battens, however, absolutely essential. In Fig. 7, there is disclosed two loop-shaped sustaining elements produced from wire and designated respectively by 29 and 80, hers being (pivotally connected to the box and denote by 31 and turned outwardly and over the upstanding battens for the back and front of the box.

In Fig. 8 a further embodiment or modifithe-sustainingwir'es is illustrated.

cation of this instance, I again employtwq 51 .5-

ends 24 of the susb taining wires 23 so that the wires cannot 45 -ments together in such construction is not,

said memtaining or stay elements which are denoted by 32. Each of these elements at its lower end is provided with a hook 33, the cross element of which is seated in a groove formed in the batten, while the upper end is like- Wise provided with a hook 34 adapted to be thrown over and engage the adjacent up= right batten of the front or back, as the case mziy be.

n Fig. 9, a still further modification is illustrated. In this instance I employ what may be termed a long loop designated by 35, the ends of the wire formed in the of the extending into an opening formed vertical batten secured to the back crate, such construction forming a hinged connection, so to speak, the forward or free end of the loop being passed over the upper end of the vertically disposed front batten.

In Fig. 8 I have shown are secured to the front and back of the box as provided with a short groove spaced between the ends thereof, which grooves are adapted to receive a relatively narrow box end 36. is construction will provide additional ventilation by reason of the fact that the narrow box end will not reach to the upper and lower battens when the box top is turned down to its closed position.

It is manifest that the top and bottom may be produced from a single piece or at pieces.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knock-down crate, the combination of a bottom, front, back and top; means securing said elements together so that they may be turned outwardly into a flattened condition and likewise brought to set-up position; battens secured to the front, the upper ends whereof extend upwardly to a slight extent above the upper edge of the ox front: and means pivotally attached to another of the box elements, said means detachably engaging said upwardly extending serving to hold the elebatten ends and their set-up position while free to be opened or closed. 2. Ina knock-down crate, the combination of a bottom, front, back and top; battens secured to each of said elements adjacent each end thereof, the ends of the battens being beveled: means securing the bottom, front, back means permitting the elements to be laid out in a flattened condition and to be likew se brought to set-up position; and means for sustaining the crate in set-up position, said means comprising a wire located ateach end of the crate said wires each having a. pivotal connection with one of the crate elements and provided with a bent portion adapted to engage the upper end standing-be leaving the top a knock-down crate, the combinaand top to each other, said from which this loop'is the battens which of an uption of a bottom, front, back and topj fleziible metal straps connecting said members; a-

, ends of the straps, the straps at such time overlying the free ends of the wires and preventingtheir disengagement.-

4; In a knock-down crate, the combination of a bottom, front, back and top; a bat-- ten secured to each end of each of said elements, the ends of the batten's being beveled flexible metal straps securing said elements together; said straps being 0 cated one adjacent each end thereof, a loop secured to 7 one end of each strap adjacent the front upper portion of the crate, said loops receiving the opposite endsof the straps to secure the top in its closed position; and a sustaining wire pi'votally secured to each of the battens of the back of the crate, said wires at their forward ends being shaped to pass over and engage the upstanding ends of the front battens, said wires being in alinement with the straps whereby the forward ends will be covered by the straps when the ends thereof are secured together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

- JOHN A. MOORE. 

